Fiber-based webs of closable bags

ABSTRACT

A web of bags includes a sheet material and a connecting material. The sheet material includes two sheets that are formed from a fiber-based material, are arranged to form a series of bags, and are connected together to form sides of the bags. Each bag is bounded by the sides where sheets are connected together and an opening. The connecting material is applied to inner surfaces of the sheets and can be activated to connect inner surfaces by the activated portions of the connecting material. The connecting material is applied to closing regions on the inner surfaces of the sheets such that the connecting material in the closing regions can be activated to close the opening.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is in the technical field of webs of bags. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to webs of preformed bags that are formed from materials that enable the bags to be easily recycled.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,254,828 (“the '828 patent”), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, is directed to a web of bags on a roll. The '828 patent discloses a web of bags interconnected by lines of weakness, preferably in the form of perforations, with each of the bags being open on one face. In use, the bags are sequentially fed to a loading station. When at the loading station, each bag is blown open, a product is inserted and thereafter separated from the web and, if desired, the bag is then sealed to form a package. These container strips in the form of chains of pre-opened bags are supplied either on a roll as taught in the '828 patent or festooned in a carton in the manner taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,029, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such webs have been sold by Automated Packaging Systems of Streetsboro, Ohio, under the trademark AUTOBAG.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In a first embodiment, a web of preformed bags includes a sheet material and a connecting material. The sheet material includes a first sheet and a second sheet. The first and second sheets are formed from a fiber-based material. The first and second sheets are arranged to form a series of bags. The first and second sheets are connected together to form sides of each of the bags. Each of the bags is bounded by the sides where first and second sheets are connected together and an opening. The connecting material is applied to an inner surface of the first sheet and to an inner surface of the second sheet. Activation of portions of the connecting material where the first and second sheets that are in contact with each other causes the first and second sheets to be connected by the activated portions of the connecting material. The connecting material is applied to closing regions on the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets of the at least one bag such that, after a product is inserted through the opening of the at least one bag, the connecting material in the closing regions can be activated to form a first activated portion of the connecting material that closes the opening.

In a second embodiment, the web of the first embodiment is configured such that the opening of the at least one bag and a bottom of the at least one bag extend transversely across the first and second sheets.

In a third embodiment, the web of the second embodiment is configured such that the bottom of the at least one bag is formed by a second activated portion of the connecting material.

In a fourth embodiment, the web of any of the second to third embodiments is configured such that the first and second sheets are formed from a single sheet of the sheet material, and a first longitudinal fold in the single sheet defines a boundary between the first sheet and the second sheet.

In a fifth embodiment, the web of the fifth embodiment is configured such that the first longitudinal fold forms a first lateral side of the at least one bag, the first lateral side extends between the bottom of the at least one bag and the opening of the at least one bag.

In a sixth embodiment, the web of the fifth embodiment is configured such that longitudinal edges of the single sheet are connected together by a third activated portion of the connecting material to form a second lateral side of the at least one bag, and the second lateral side extends between the bottom of the at least one bag and the opening of the at least one bag.

In a seventh embodiment, the web of any of the fifth to sixth embodiments is configured such that a second longitudinal fold in the single sheet defines another boundary between the first sheet and the second sheet, the second longitudinal fold forms a second lateral side of the at least one bag, and the second lateral side extends between the bottom of the at least one bag and the opening of the at least one bag.

In an eighth embodiment, the web of the seventh embodiment is configured such that longitudinal edges of the single sheet are connected together by a third activated portion of the connecting material to form a longitudinal seam, and the first sheet is bounded by the first and second longitudinal folds and includes the longitudinal seam, and wherein the second sheet is bounded by the first and second longitudinal folds.

In a ninth embodiment, the web of any of the second to eighth embodiments is configured such that the first and second sheets are formed from separate sheets of the sheet material that are connected together along third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material.

In a tenth embodiment, the web of the ninth embodiment is configured such that the third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material form first and second lateral sides, respectively, of the at least one bag, and wherein each of the first and second sheets is bounded by the third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material.

In an eleventh embodiment, the web of any of the ninth to tenth embodiments is configured such that the third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material form longitudinal seams in the web, each of the separate sheets of the sheet material includes a longitudinal fold, and each of the first and second sheets is bounded by the longitudinal folds in the separate sheets of the sheet material and includes one of the longitudinal seams in the web.

In a twelfth embodiment, the web of any of the previous embodiments is configured such that the opening of the at least one bag extends along a first longitudinal side of the web, and a bottom of the at least one bag extends along a second longitudinal side of the web.

In a thirteenth embodiment, the web of the twelfth embodiment is configured such that a first lateral side of the bag that extends between the bottom and the opening of the at least one bag is formed by a second activated portion of the connecting material.

In a fourteenth embodiment, the web of any of the twelfth to thirteenth embodiments is configured such that the at least one bag includes a third activated portion of the connecting material to form a second lateral side of the at least one bag that extends between the bottom and the opening of the at least one bag.

In a fifteenth embodiment, the web of the fourteenth embodiment is configured such that the first and second sheets are formed from a single sheet of the sheet material, a longitudinal fold in the single sheet defines a boundary between the first sheet and the second sheet, and the longitudinal fold in the single sheet defines the bottom of the at least one bag.

In a sixteenth embodiment, the web of any of the fourteenth to fifteenth embodiments is configured such that the first and second sheets are formed from separate sheets of the sheet material that are connected together along a fourth activated portion of the connecting material, and wherein the fourth activated portion of the connecting material defines the bottom of the at least one bag.

In a seventeenth embodiment, the web of any of the previous embodiments is configured such that the connecting material is applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets in a pattern, and the pattern includes at least one longitudinal strip of the connecting material along each of the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets.

In an eighteenth embodiment, the web of the seventeenth embodiment is configured such that the pattern further includes at least one transverse longitudinal strip of the connecting material along each of the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets for each of the bags in the series of bags.

In a nineteenth embodiment, the web of the eighteenth embodiment is configured such that one of the at least one transverse longitudinal strip for each of the bags in the series of bags includes (i) a second activated portion of the connecting material of a first bag that forms a bottom of the first bag, and (ii) the closing regions on the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets of a second bag.

In a twentieth embodiment, the web of the nineteenth embodiment further includes a line of weakness in the web between the first bag and the second bag.

In a twenty first embodiment, the web of the twentieth embodiment is configured such that the line of weakness is in the second sheet, the opening of the second bag is formed in the first sheet, and the line of weakness and the opening of the second bag are substantially aligned.

In a twenty second embodiment, the web of any of the previous embodiments is configured such that the connecting material includes a polymer.

In a twenty third embodiment, the web of the twenty second embodiment is configured such that the connecting material is activatable by a heat seal configured to bond portions of the polymer on the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets.

In a twenty fourth embodiment, the web of any of the twenty second to twenty third embodiments is configured such that the connecting material is applied as an aqueous solution that includes the polymer.

In a twenty fifth embodiment, the web of any of the twenty second to twenty fourth embodiments is configured such that the polymer is laminated to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets.

In a twenty sixth embodiment, the web of any of the previous embodiments is configured such that the connecting material is activatable by a cold press process.

In a twenty seventh embodiment, the web of any of the previous embodiments is configured such that the connecting material is a two-component adhesive, a first component of the two-component adhesive is applied to the first sheet, and a second component of the two-component adhesive is applied to the second sheet.

In a twenty eighth embodiment, the web of any of the previous embodiments further includes a first set of two longitudinal creases on opposite sides of a first longitudinal side of the web and a second set of two longitudinal creases on opposite sides of a second longitudinal side of the web.

In a twenty ninth embodiment, the web of the twenty eighth embodiment is configured such that a portion of the web that includes the at least one bag is in a lay-flat configuration prior to a product being inserted into the at least one bag and, in the lay-flat configuration, the longitudinal creases of the first and second sets of two longitudinal creases are unfolded.

In a thirtieth embodiment, the web of the twenty ninth embodiment is configured such that the at least one bag is adjustable from the lay-flat configuration to a three-dimensional configuration where the longitudinal creases of the first and second sets of two longitudinal creases are folded such that lateral sides of the at least one bag are gusseted.

In a thirty first embodiment, the web of any of the previous embodiments is configured such that the connecting material is applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets in the at least one bag such that a percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets in the at least one bag that have the connecting material applied is less than or equal to about 50%.

In a thirty second embodiment, the web of the thirty first embodiments is configured such that the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets in the at least one bag that have the connecting material applied is less than or equal to one of about 40%, about 30%, or about 20%.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the disclosed subject matter will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C depict, respectively, a front view, a longitudinal cross-sectional view, and a transverse cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a web 10 of bags;

FIGS. 2A to 2D depict a series of instances of an embodiment of a method of loading, sealing, and removing bags from the web shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C depict, respectively, a front view, a longitudinal cross-sectional view, and a transverse cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a web of bags;

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict an embodiment of a web respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags, where the bags have product loading openings that extend transversely across the web, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict an embodiment of a web respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags, where the bags have product loading openings that extend transversely across the web, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIGS. 6A and 6B depict an embodiment of a web respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags, where the bags have product loading openings that extend transversely across the web, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 6C depicts a cross-sectional view of the web shown in the lay-flat configuration depicted in FIG. 6B, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 6D depicts the web shown in FIG. 6B in in another lay-flat configuration after the first and second sheets have been connected together, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 6E depicts a cross-sectional view of the web shown in the lay-flat configuration depicted in FIG. 6D, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict an embodiment of a web respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags, where the bags have product loading openings that extend transversely across the web, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIGS. 8A and 8B depict an embodiment of a web respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags, where the bags have product loading openings that extend transversely across the web, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIGS. 9A and 9B depict an embodiment of a web respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags, where the bags have product loading openings that extend longitudinally along the web, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein;

and

FIGS. 10A and 10B depict an embodiment of a web respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags, where the bags have product loading openings that extend longitudinally along the web, in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes embodiments of fiber-based webs of closable bags. Such webs are suitable for use with machines and methods of automatically opening the bags in the web so that the bags can be loaded with a product before the bags are closed and sealed. It should be noted that various embodiments of webs and methods of using the same are disclosed herein, and any combination of these options can be made unless specifically excluded. In other words, individual components or portions of the disclosed machines can be combined unless mutually exclusive or otherwise physically impossible.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C depict, respectively, a front view, a longitudinal cross-sectional view, and a transverse cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a web 10 of bags 100. The web 10 can be supplied as a roll, as a fanfolded stack in a box, or in any other convenient supply. The web 10 includes a first sheet 102 and a second sheet 104. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sheets 102 and 104 are formed from a single sheet of material that has been longitudinally folded between the first and second sheets 102 and 104. In other embodiments, the first and second sheets 102 and 104 are formed from two separate sheets of material. In other embodiments, the first and second sheets 102 and 104 are formed from a tube of material that is flattened. In some embodiments, the first and second sheets 102 and 104 are joined together by any of a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, gluing, and the like.

The web 10 of bags 100 is one example of the wide variety of different webs that may be used. Examples of webs of preformed interconnected bags include, but are not limited to, the webs disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,254,828 and 5,957,824, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The first and second sheets 102 and 104 may be formed of any suitable material. Traditionally, the first and second sheets 102 and 104 have been formed from heat sealable or ultrasonic weldable materials, such as plastic materials, polyethylene, cellophane, vinyl films, pliofilms, cellulose acetate film, polystyrene, polypropylene, among others. Such heat sealable or ultrasonic weldable materials are relatively inexpensive and are easily closable by heat sealing and/or ultrasonic welding after the bags 100 are filled.

The web 10 extends between a first edge or side 106 and second edge or side 108. Each of the first and second sides 106 and 108 can be formed from a fold in a single piece of material (e.g., a fold in a flattened tube of material) or from joined portions of the first and second sheets 102 and 104 (e.g., a heat seal). The joined portions of the first and second sheets 102 and 104 can have a width such that the first and second sheets 102 and 104 are not separable from each other until a distance equal to the seal width from the edge of the first and second sheets 102 and 104. In the depicted embodiment, the bags 100 in the web 10 are separable by lines of weakness 110 formed in one or both of the first and second sheets 102 and 104. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 110 are formed from a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or other line of weakness, that allow one of the bags 100 to be torn or otherwise removed from the web 10. In embodiments where each of the first and second sheets 102 and 104 includes a line of weakness 110, the line of weakness 110 in one of the first and second sheets 102 and 104 can be broken to permit an object to be inserted into the bag 100 before the line of weakness 110 in the other of the first and second sheets 102 and 104 is broken to remove the bag 100 from the web 10. As used herein, an “object” may comprise a single item capable of being packaged in a single bag or a grouping of several distinct items that are capable of being packaged in a single bag. Further, an object may include any accompanying informational items, such as a packing slip, tracking code, a manifest, an invoice, a machine-readable identifier (e.g., a bar code or a quick response (QR) code) that can be sensed by a reader (e.g., a bar code scanner or a camera), or any other informational item.

In the depicted embodiment, seals 112 extend across the web 10 from the first side 106 to the second side 108 to form a bottom of a compartment 101 in each of the bags 100. In the depicted embodiment, each of the seals 112 is located proximate one of the lines of weakness 110. When the lines of weakness 110 are broken, the broken portions of the first and second sheets form a top edge or side 118 of one bag and a bottom edge or side 116 of a succeeding bag (see FIGS. 2A to 2D). In each of the bags 100, the first sheet 102, the second sheet 104, the first side 106, the second side 108, and the seal 112 define a compartment 101 capable of receiving an object. While the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C illustrate the bag 100 as having a single compartment 101, the bags 100 may have any number of compartments in other embodiments.

FIGS. 2A to 2D depict a series of instances of an embodiment of a method of loading, sealing, and removing bags 100 from the web 10. In the instances shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, the bags 100 in the web 10 include some or all of bags 1001, 1002, and 1003. At the instance shown in FIG. 2A, the bags 1001, 1002, and 1003 are connected to each other. The line of weakness 110 in the first sheet 102 between the bags 1001 and 1002 has been broken to permit an object (not visible) to be loaded inside of the compartment 101 of the bag 1001. With an object loaded in the bag 1001, a closing seal 114 has been formed in the bag 1001 proximate the opening where the line of weakness 110 was broken. In the depicted embodiment, the closing seal 114 extends from the first side 106 to the second side 108 to seal the compartment 101. In other embodiments, the closing seal 114 may not extend completely from the first side 106 to the second side 108 or the closing seal 114 may be intermittent to allow gas (e.g., air) to flow between the compartment 101 and the external environment. In some embodiments, the closing seal 114 may be formed by various techniques including, but not limited to, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, gluing, and the like.

At the instance shown in FIG. 2B, the line of weakness 110 in the second sheet 104 between the bags 1001 and 1002 has been broken such that the bag 1001 has been removed from the web 10 of bags 100. The breaking of the line of weakness 110 between the bags 1001 and 1002 forms a bottom edge 116 of the bag 1002 and a top edge 118 of the bag 1001. With the bag 1001 removed from the web 10, the bag 1001 can be moved to another location (e.g., shipped to a recipient).

At the instance shown in FIG. 2B, the bag 1002 remains closed along three sides: (1) the first side 106, which is closed in the depicted embodiment by the first and second sheets 102 being sealed together; (2) the second side 108, which is closed in the depicted embodiment by the fold between the first and second sheets 102 and 104; and (3) the bottom edge 116, which is closed by the seal 112. However, bag 1002 has been opened at its top edge by separating the first and second sheets 102 and 104. Separating the first and second sheets 102 and 104 at the line of weakness 110 opens the bag 1002 to form a object receiving opening. In the depicted embodiment, an object 150 has been loaded into the compartment 101 of the bag 1002 through the object receiving opening. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 110 are separated in one or both of the first and second sheets 102 and 104. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 110 in one or both of the first and second sheets 102 and 104 are not yet broken proximate the first and second sides 106 and 108 of the web to provide reinforcement during the opening of the bag 1002 and the loading the object 150 into the compartment 101 of the bag 1002. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 110 are separated in only one of the first and second sheets 102 and 104 to provide reinforcement during the opening of the bag 1002 and the loading the object 150 into the compartment 101 of the bag 1002.

At the instance shown in FIG. 2C, the closing seal 114 has been formed in the bag 1002 proximate the object receiving opening where the line of weakness 110 was broken. In the depicted embodiment, the closing seal 114 extends from the first side 106 to the second side 108 to seal the compartment 101. In other embodiments, the closing seal 114 may not extend completely from the first side 106 to the second side 108 or the closing seal 114 may be intermittent to allow gas (e.g., air) to flow between the compartment 101 and the external environment. In some embodiments, the closing seal 114 may be formed by various techniques including, but not limited to, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, gluing, and the like.

At the instance shown in FIG. 2D, the line of weakness 110 in the second sheet 104 between the bags 1002 and 1003 has been broken such that the bag 1002 has been removed from the web 10 of bags 100. The breaking of the line of weakness 110 between the bags 1002 and 1003 forms a bottom edge 116 of the bag 1003 and a top edge 118 of the bag 1002. With the bag 1002 removed from the web 10, the bag 1002 can be moved to another location (e.g., shipped to a recipient).

The method depicted in FIGS. 2A to 2D can be repeated any number of times to load objects into bags, close the bags, and separate the bags from the web. In some embodiments, the process is repeated until all of the bags 100 in the web 10 have been used. In some embodiments, some portions of the process—such as advancing the web 10, opening the object receiving opening of the bag 100, forming the closing seals 114, and separating bags 100 from the web 10—can be performed by a bagging machine. Examples of bagging machines that may be used in such processes are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,743,070; 6,543,201; 7,258,656; 7,654,064; 8,069,635; 8,549,822; 8,887,978; and 10,336,489; the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C depict, respectively, a front view, a longitudinal cross-sectional view, and a transverse cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a web 10′ of bags 100. The web 10′ is similar to the web 10 depicted in FIGS. 1A to 1C. However, the web 10′ includes first and second sheets 102′ and 104′ that are formed from separate sheets of material, as opposed to the first and second sheets 102 and 104 in the web 10 that are formed from a single, folded sheet of material. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first and second sheets 102′ and 104′ are still sealed to each other long the first side 106. The second side 108′ of the web 10′ is also formed by sealing the first and second sheets 102′ and 104′. Other than these differences, the web 10′ is substantially similar to the web 10. It will be apparent that the webs 10 and 10′ may be used interchangeably to fill the bags 100, close the bags 100, and separate the bags 100 from their respective webs 10 and 10′.

Webs similar to the webs 10 and 10′ have been made from heat sealable or ultrasonic weldable materials. Such materials include plastic materials, polyethylene, cellophane, vinyl films, pliofilms, cellulose acetate film, polystyrene, polypropylene, and others. These materials have been used because of the relative ease of both forming into webs of bags and closing the bags after they have been filled. However, these materials are not easily recycled. While it is possible to recycle plastic films and bags, there can be a number of challenges to recycling such materials. Consumers do not always know how or where to recycle plastic films and bags. Even if consumers return films and bags properly for recycling, they can be dirty or otherwise contaminated which increases the expense of recycling and/or affects the quality of the recycled plastic materials produced. In addition, there are significant limitations on the ways in which the post-recycled plastic materials can be used. A number of other challenges exist with recycling plastic films and bags.

Fiber-based sheet materials, such as paper, kraft paper, paperboard, cardboard, and the like, are generally considered to be more easily and effectively recycled than plastic films materials. For example, in many locations, municipalities and other local waste collection services collect fiber-based materials from consumers homes for recycling. Further, there are a large number of options for using post-recycled paper products. However, despite the superior recycling benefits of fiber-based materials, webs of connected bags (e.g., the webs and 10′) have not been formed from fiber-based materials. In particular, of the first and second sheets 102 and 104 of the webs 10 and 10′ were formed from sheets of fiber-based materials, it is unclear how closing seal 114 could easily and quickly be formed to close the bags 100 after they are filled. While the inner surfaces of fiber-based materials could be coated entirely in a plastic coating (e.g., a polyethylene coating) to enable heat-sealing of the fiber-based materials, such a coating on the fiber-based materials may prevent or limit the ability of the fiber-based materials to be easily recycled. The present disclosure describes embodiments of webs of preformed bags that are formed from fiber-based sheet materials in a way that enables the bags to be easily closed, while still being easily recyclable by end consumers.

FIGS. 4A and 4B depict an embodiment of a web 200 respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags 202. The web 200 includes a first sheet 210 and a second sheet 220. The first and second sheets 210 and 220 are formed from a fiber-based material. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are formed from separate sheets of the fiber-based material. The first sheet 210 includes a first side 212 and a second side 214. The second sheet 220 includes a first side 222 and a second side 224. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sides 212 and 214 are longitudinal sides of the first sheet 210 and the first and second sides 222 and 224 are longitudinal sides of the first sheet 220.

In the depicted embodiment, the first sheet 210 includes lines of weakness 216 and the second sheet 220 includes lines of weakness 226. In the depicted embodiment, the lines of weakness 216 and 226 are positioned in the first and second sheets 210 and 220, respectively, such that the one of the lines of weakness 216 and one of the lines of weakness 226 are substantially aligned when the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are connected together to form the bags 202. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 216 and 226 include one or more of a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or any other line of weakness, that allow one of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 to be torn or otherwise broken. In other embodiments, only one of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 includes a line of weakness.

FIG. 4A depicts inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 before the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are connected together to form the bags 202. To aid in connecting the first and second sheets 210 and 220, the inner surface of the second sheet 220 has adhesive applied thereto. In the depicted embodiment, the inner surface of the second sheet 220 has a first longitudinal strip 232 of adhesive applied proximate the first side 222 and a second longitudinal strip 234 of adhesive applied proximate the second side 224. The inner surface of the second sheet 220 also has transverse strips 236 of adhesive applied proximate each of the lines of weakness 226. In the depicted embodiment, the transverse strips 236 of adhesive applied above each of the lines of weakness 226. In some embodiments, the adhesive in the first and second longitudinal strips 232 and 234 and in the transverse strips 236 is configured to connect the second sheet 220 to the first sheet 210 upon contact between the first and second sheets 210 and 220. For example, the adhesive in the first and second longitudinal strips 232 and 234 and in the transverse strips 236 can include at least one of tape, double-sided tape, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, glue, liquid glue, spray glue, a starch-based adhesive, or any other contact adhesive.

FIG. 4B depicts the web 200 with the first and second sheets 210 and 220 connected together to form a series of the bags 202. In the depicted embodiment, the first longitudinal strip 232 of adhesive has connected the first and second sheets 210 and 220 proximate the first sides 212 and 222 to form a first longitudinal seam 242 on a first side 206 of the web 200. The second longitudinal strip 234 of adhesive has connected the first and second sheets 210 and 220 proximate the second sides 214 and 224 to form a second longitudinal seam 244 on a second side 208 of the web 200. The transverse strips 236 of adhesive have connected the first and second sheets 210 and 220 proximate each of the lines of weakness 216 and 226 to form transverse seams 246.

As can be seen in FIG. 4B, each of the bags 202 in the depicted embodiment includes a top along the lines of weakness 216 and 226, right and left sides (e.g., the first and second sides 206 and 208) along the first and second longitudinal seam 242 and 244, and a bottom along one of the transverse seams 246. The top, bottom, and left and right sides of each of the bags 202 form a compartment 204 in which an object can be loaded. In some embodiments, objects can be loaded in the bags 202 in similar fashion to the way in which objects were shown being loaded into the bags 100 in FIGS. 2A to 2D. For example, at least a portion of one of the lines of weakness 216 and 226 can be broken to form an object receiving opening in one of the bags 202. An object can be loaded into the compartment 204 of the one of the bags 202 through the object receiving opening.

Referring back to FIG. 4A, a connecting material 238 has been applied to the inner surface of the second sheet 220 and a connecting material 240 has been applied to the inner surface of the first sheet 210. In the depicted embodiment, the connecting material 238 has been applied in a substantially transverse direction across the second sheet 220 below each of the lines of weakness 226. Similarly, the connecting material 240 has been applied in a substantially transverse direction across the first sheet 210 below each of the lines of weakness 216.

The connecting materials 238 and 240 are configured such that the connecting materials 238 and 240 do not connect with each other solely by contacting each other. The connecting materials 238 and 240 are further configured to connect with each other in response to activation of at least a portion the connecting materials 238 and 240. In some embodiments, the connecting materials 238 and 240 are a polymer (e.g., polyethylene) applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 210 and 220. In those embodiments, the polymer coating in the connecting materials 238 and 240 can be activated by a heat seal that is configured to bond portions of the polymer on the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 to each other by heating the first and second sheets 210 and 220 sufficiently to cause the polymer in the connecting materials 238 and 240 to soften or melt and then fuse together. In some cases, the polymer can be applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 by coating or by laminating. In some cases, the polymer can be applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 as an aqueous solution that includes the polymer. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 238 and 240 are activatable by a cold press process by which a force is applied to the connecting materials 238 and 240, which causes the connecting materials 238 and 240 to connect to each other. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 238 and 240 form two-component adhesive, with the connecting material 238 being a first component of the two-component adhesive and the connecting material 240 being a second component of the two-component adhesive. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 238 and 240 can be any other type of suitable connecting materials that will not connect to each other merely by contact but will connect to each other upon activation of at least a portion of the connecting materials 238 and 240.

In FIG. 4B, the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are connected to each other by the first and second longitudinal strips 232 and 234 of adhesive and the transverse strips 236 of adhesive. In this configuration, each of the bags 202 in the web 200 includes a closing region 248 on which the connecting materials 238 and 240 are applied. In this arrangement, portions of the connecting materials 238 and 240 can be activated to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 238 and 240 that closes the object receiving opening. For example, after one of the lines of weakness 216 and 226 is broken to form the object receiving opening, an object can be loaded into the compartment 204 through the object receiving opening because the connecting materials 238 and 240 have not connected to each other by mere contact. After the object is inserted into the compartment 204 through the object receiving opening, portions of the connecting materials 238 and 240 can be activated in the closing region 248 to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 238 and 240 that closes the object receiving opening. In this way, the web 200 can be used to bag objects in ways similar to those described above with respect to the webs 10 and 10′ being used to bag objects in FIGS. 2A to 2D.

As can be seen in FIG. 4A, the first sheet 210 includes uncovered areas 218 and the second sheet 220 includes uncovered areas 228. The uncovered areas 218 include the portions of the first sheet 210 not covered by the connecting materials 240. The uncovered areas 228 include the portions of the second sheet 220 not covered by any of the first and second longitudinal strips 232 and 234 of adhesive, the transverse strips 236 of adhesive, and the connecting materials 238. When the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are connected to each other, as shown in FIG. 4B, portions of the surfaces of each of the compartments 204 are made up of the uncovered areas 218 and 228. In some embodiments, the percentage of the surfaces of the compartments 204 that is made up by the uncovered areas 218 and 228 is greater than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, and about 90%. In some embodiments, the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets 210 and 220 in each of the bags 202 that have the connecting material 238 and 240 applied thereto is less than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 40%, about 30%, about 20%, and about 10%. In some embodiments, the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets 210 and 220 that have any of the first and second longitudinal strips 232 and 234 of adhesive, the transverse strips 236 of adhesive, and the connecting material 238 and 240 applied thereto is less than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 40%, about 30%, about 20%, and about 10%. In other embodiments, inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 may be completely covered by the first and second longitudinal strips 232 and 234 of adhesive, the transverse strips 236 of adhesive, and/or the connecting material 238 and 240 such that the first sheet 210 does not include uncovered areas 218 and the second sheet 220 does not include uncovered areas 228.

In embodiments where the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are fiber-based materials, the likelihood that the bags 202 are recyclable in a convenient form (e.g., curbside recyclable), increases as the percentage of the uncovered areas 218 and 228 of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 increases. Thus, under some circumstances, it may be advantageous to minimize the amount of the connecting material 238 and 240 that is applied to the first and second sheets 210 and 220, while applying sufficient amounts of the connecting material 238 and 240 to ensure that the bags 202 will be properly closed when the connecting material 238 and 240 are activated.

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict another embodiment of a web 270 respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags 202. The web 270 is a variation of the web 200 and includes many of the same or similar features. The web 270 includes the first and second sheets 210 and 220 that, in some embodiments, are formed from a fiber-based material. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are formed from a single sheet of the fiber-based material. The single sheet of the fiber-based material has been folded along a longitudinal fold 250 between the first and second sheets 210 and 220. The first sheet 210 includes the second side 214 and the second sheet 220 includes the second side 224. In the depicted embodiment, the second sides 214 and 224 are longitudinal sides of the single sheet of fiber-based material. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sheets 210 and 220 include lines of weakness 216 and 226.

FIG. 5A depicts inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 of the web 270 before the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are connected together to form the bags 202. In the depicted embodiment, the inner surface of the second sheet 220 has the second longitudinal strip 234 of adhesive applied proximate the second side 224 and the transverse strips 236 of adhesive applied proximate each of the lines of weakness 226. In the depicted embodiment, the transverse strips 236 of adhesive applied above each of the lines of weakness 226. In some embodiments, the adhesive in the second longitudinal strip 234 and in the transverse strips 236 is configured to connect the second sheet 220 to the first sheet 210 upon contact between the first and second sheets 210 and 220. For example, the adhesive in the first and second longitudinal strips 232 and 234 and in the transverse strips 236 can include at least one of tape, double-sided tape, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, glue, liquid glue, spray glue, a starch-based adhesive, or any other contact adhesive.

FIG. 5B depicts the web 270 with the first and second sheets 210 and 220 connected together to form a series of the bags 202. In the depicted embodiment, the first side 206 of the web 270 is formed from the longitudinal fold 250. Thus, the first side 206 of the web 270 does not have a longitudinal seam formed from adhesive connected the first and second sheets 210 and 220. In the depicted embodiment, the second longitudinal strip 234 of adhesive has connected the first and second sheets 210 and 220 proximate the second sides 214 and 224 to form the second longitudinal seam 244 on the second side 208 of the web 270. The transverse strips 236 of adhesive have connected the first and second sheets 210 and 220 proximate each of the lines of weakness 216 and 226 to form transverse seams 246.

As can be seen in FIG. 5B, each of the bags 202 in the depicted embodiment includes a top along the lines of weakness 216 and 226, right and left sides (e.g., the first and second sides 206 and 208) along the longitudinal fold 250 and the second longitudinal seam 244, and a bottom along one of the transverse seams 246. The top, bottom, and left and right sides of each of the bags 202 form a compartment 204 in which an object can be loaded. In some embodiments, objects can be loaded in the bags 202 in similar fashion to the way in which objects were shown being loaded into the bags 100 in FIGS. 2A to 2D. For example, at least a portion of one of the lines of weakness 216 and 226 can be broken to form an object receiving opening in one of the bags 202. An object can be loaded into the compartment 204 of the one of the bags 202 through the object receiving opening.

The connecting materials 238 and 240 on the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 of the web 270 are configured such that the connecting materials 238 and 240 do not connect with each other solely by contacting each other. The connecting materials 238 and 240 are further configured to connect with each other in response to activation of at least a portion the connecting materials 238 and 240. In the depicted configuration, each of the bags 202 in the web 270 includes the closing region 248 on which the connecting materials 238 and 240 are applied. In this arrangement, portions of the connecting materials 238 and 240 can be activated to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 238 and 240 that closes the object receiving opening. For example, after one of the lines of weakness 216 and 226 is broken to form the object receiving opening, an object can be loaded into the compartment 204 through the object receiving opening because the connecting materials 238 and 240 have not connected to each other by mere contact. After the object is inserted into the compartment 204 through the object receiving opening, portions of the connecting materials 238 and 240 can be activated in the closing region 248 to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 238 and 240 that closes the object receiving opening. In this way, the web 270 can be used to bag objects in ways similar to those described above with respect to the webs 10 and 10′ being used to bag objects in FIGS. 2A to 2D.

As can be seen in FIG. 5A, the uncovered areas 218 include the portions of the first sheet 210 not covered by the connecting materials 240 and the uncovered areas 228 include the portions of the second sheet 220 not covered by any of the second longitudinal strips 234 of adhesive, the transverse strips 236 of adhesive, and the connecting materials 238. When the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are connected to each other, as shown in FIG. 5B, portions of the surfaces of each of the compartments 204 are made up of the uncovered areas 218 and 228. In some embodiments, the percentage of the surfaces of the compartments 204 that is made up by the uncovered areas 218 and 228 is greater than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, and about 90%. In some embodiments, the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets 210 and 220 in each of the bags 202 that have the connecting material 238 and 240 applied thereto is less than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 40%, about 30%, about 20%, and about 10%. In some embodiments, the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets 210 and 220 that have any of the first and second longitudinal strips 232 and 234 of adhesive, the transverse strips 236 of adhesive, and the connecting material 238 and 240 applied thereto is less than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 40%, about 30%, about 20%, and about 10%. In other embodiments, inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 210 and 220 may be completely covered by the first and second longitudinal strips 232 and 234 of adhesive, the transverse strips 236 of adhesive, and/or the connecting material 238 and 240 such that the first sheet 210 does not include uncovered areas 218 and the second sheet 220 does not include uncovered areas 228.

When comparing the web 200 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B to the web 270 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, it is apparent that the webs described herein can be formed from a single sheet of material or from multiple sheets of material. It may be advantageous, under certain conditions, for a web to be formed from either a single sheet or from multiple sheets. In one example, a single-sheet web may require less adhesive to connect the two sheets because one of the sides can be a fold in the single sheet. In another example, a multi-sheet web may be less complicated to manufacture because no folding of the sheets is involved. Many other considerations may be taken into account when deciding whether to use a single-sheet web or a multi-sheet web. Moreover, while embodiments of webs are described herein as single-sheet or multi-sheet webs, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that any single-sheet web described herein could also be formed as a multi-sheet web and that any multi-sheet web described herein could also be formed as a single-sheet web.

FIGS. 6A and 6B depict another embodiment of a web 280 respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags 202. The web 280 is similar to the web 270, except that the web 280 further includes longitudinal creases 252, 254, 256, and 258. The longitudinal creases 252, 254, 256, and 258 are configured to aid in the bending or folding of the web 280. In some embodiments, each of the longitudinal creases 252, 254, 256, and 258 includes one or more of a fold, a bend, a crimp, slits, perforations, or other weakened portion that aids in the bending or folding of the web 280. In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal crease 252 is located in the first sheet 210 and is substantially parallel to and proximate the second side 214 of the first sheet 210; the longitudinal crease 254 is located in the first sheet 210 and is substantially parallel to and proximate the longitudinal fold 250 between the first and second sheets 210 and 220; the longitudinal crease 258 is located in the second sheet 220 and is substantially parallel to and proximate the longitudinal fold 250 between the first and second sheets 210 and 220; and the longitudinal crease 256 is located in the second sheet 220 and is substantially parallel to and proximate the second side 224 of the second sheet 220. As discussed below, the longitudinal creases 252, 254, 256, and 258 can enable the web 280 to be easily adjusted from a lay-flat configuration to a three-dimensional configuration. The longitudinal creases 252, 254, 256, and 258 can also enable the bags 202 to function as gusseted bags.

The web 280 is depicted in FIG. 6B in one lay-flat configuration after the first and second sheets 210 and 220 have been connected together by the second longitudinal strip 234 and the transverse strips 236 of adhesive. FIG. 6C depicts a cross-sectional view of the web 280 in the lay-flat configuration depicted in FIG. 6B. In this lay-flat configuration, the longitudinal creases 252, 254, 256, and 258 are substantially unfolded while the first and second sides 206 and 208 are outwardly folded such that the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are in proximity to each other and substantially parallel to each other. In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal creases 252 and 256 form one set of two longitudinal creases on opposite sides of the first side 206 of the web 280 and the longitudinal creases 254 and 258 form another set of two longitudinal creases on opposite sides of the second side 208 of the web 280.

The web 280 is depicted in FIG. 6D in another lay-flat configuration after the first and second sheets 210 and 220 have been connected together by the second longitudinal strip 234 and the transverse strips 236 of adhesive. FIG. 6E depicts a cross-sectional view of the web 280 in the lay-flat configuration depicted in FIG. 6D. In this lay-flat configuration, the longitudinal creases 252, 254, 256, and 258 are outwardly folded (sometimes called “mountain” folded) while the first and second sides 206 and 208 are inwardly folded (sometimes called “valley” folded) folded such that the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are in proximity to each other. In particular, the longitudinal creases 252 and 256 are in proximity to each other and the longitudinal creases 254 and 258 are in proximity to each other. While the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are not as close to each other in the lay-flat configuration shown in FIG. 6E as in the lay-flat configuration shown in FIG. 6C, and the first and second sheets 210 and 220 are in proximity to each other and substantially parallel to each other in the lay-flat configuration shown in FIG. 6E. In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal creases 252 and 256 form one set of two longitudinal creases on opposite sides of the first side 206 of the web 280 and the longitudinal creases 254 and 258 form another set of two longitudinal creases on opposite sides of the second side 208 of the web 280.

In either of the lay-flat configurations shown in FIGS. 2B and 2D, the web 280 can be formed into a supply (e.g., rolled on a core to form a roll of the web 280, folded into a fanfolded stack of the web 280 in a container, etc.) that is convenient for using with an automated bagging machine. When the web 280 is drawn out and the bags 202 are individually opened into a three-dimensional configuration, the longitudinal creases 252, 254, 256, and 258 can readily fold to improve the adjustment from the lay-flat configuration to the three-dimensional configuration. In some embodiments, the web 280 is in a lay-flat configuration prior to a product being inserted into one of the bags 202. From the lay-flat configuration, the longitudinal creases 252 and 256 of one set of two longitudinal creases and the longitudinal creases 254 and 258 of the other set of two longitudinal creases in one of the bags 202 can be unfolded to enable the product to be inserted into the one of the bags 202.

When comparing the web 280 shown in FIGS. 6A to 6E to the web 200 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and web 270 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, it is apparent that the webs described herein can be formed with or without longitudinal creases. It may be advantageous, under certain conditions, for a web to be formed either with or without longitudinal creases. In one example, a web without longitudinal creases may be desirable where gussets are not needed or useful (e.g., when packaging thin items). In another example, a web without longitudinal creases may be desirable where gussets would aid in opening the bags sufficiently and/or holding wide objects. Many other considerations may be taken into account when deciding whether to include longitudinal creases in webs. Moreover, while embodiments of webs are described herein as including or lacking longitudinal creases, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that any web described herein as lacking longitudinal creases could also be formed with longitudinal creases and that any web described herein as including longitudinal creases could also be formed without longitudinal creases.

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict another embodiment of a web 300 of bags 302 respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags 302. The web 300 is similar to the web 270, except that the web 300 includes connecting materials instead of longitudinal and transverse strips of adhesive. The web 300 includes a first sheet 310 and a second sheet 320. The first and second sheets 310 and 320 are formed from a fiber-based material. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sheets 310 and 320 are formed from a single sheet of the fiber-based material that has a longitudinal fold 350 between the first and second sheets 310 and 320. In other embodiments, the web 300 could be formed from separate sheets of sheet material. The first sheet 310 includes a side 314 and the second sheet 320 includes a side 324. In the depicted embodiment, the sides 314 and 324 are longitudinal sides of the single sheet of the sheet material.

In the depicted embodiment, the first sheet 310 includes lines of weakness 316 and the second sheet 320 includes lines of weakness 326. In the depicted embodiment, the lines of weakness 316 and 326 are positioned in the first and second sheets 310 and 320, respectively, such that the one of the lines of weakness 316 and one of the lines of weakness 326 are substantially aligned when the first and second sheets 310 and 320 are connected together to form the bags 302. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 316 and 326 include one or more of a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or any other line of weakness, that allow one of the first and second sheets 310 and 320 to be torn or otherwise broken. In other embodiments, only one of the first and second sheets 310 and 320 includes a line of weakness.

FIG. 7A depicts inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 310 and 320 before the first and second sheets 310 and 320 are connected together to form the bags 302. To aid in connecting the first and second sheets 310 and 320, the inner surfaces of the first and second sheet 310 and 320 have connecting materials applied thereto. A connecting material 338 has been applied to the inner surface of the second sheet 320 and a connecting material 340 has been applied to the inner surface of the first sheet 310. In the depicted embodiment, the connecting material 338 has been applied in a substantially longitudinal strip 334 along the side 324 and in substantially transverse strips 336 across the second sheet 320 both above and below each of the lines of weakness 326. Similarly, the connecting material 340 has been applied in a substantially longitudinal strip 335 along the side 314 and in substantially transverse strips 337 across the first sheet 310 both above and below each of the lines of weakness 316.

The connecting materials 338 and 340 are configured such that the connecting materials 338 and 340 do not connect with each other solely by contacting each other. The connecting materials 338 and 340 are further configured to connect with each other in response to activation of at least a portion the connecting materials 338 and 340. In some embodiments, the connecting materials 338 and 340 include a polymer coating or lamination. In some cases, the polymer can be applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 310 and 320 as an aqueous solution that includes the polymer. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 338 and 340 are activatable by a cold press process by which a force is applied to the connecting materials 338 and 340, which causes the connecting materials 338 and 340 to connect to each other. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 338 and 340 form two-component adhesive, with the connecting material 338 being a first component of the two-component adhesive and the connecting material 340 being a second component of the two-component adhesive. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 338 and 340 can be any other type of suitable connecting materials that will not connect to teach other merely by contact but will connect to each other upon activation of at least a portion of the connecting materials 338 and 340.

FIG. 7B depicts the web 300 with the first and second sheets 310 and 320 connected together to form a series of the bags 302. In the depicted embodiment, the connecting materials 338 and 340 in the longitudinal strips 334 and 335 have been activated proximate the sides 314 and 324 to connect the first and second sheets 310 and 320 along a longitudinal seam 344 on a second side 308 of the web 300. A first side 306 of the web 300 is closed by the longitudinal fold 350 between the first and second sheets 310 and 320. A portion of each of the connecting materials 338 and 340 in the transverse strips 336 and 337 has been activated above the lines of weakness 316 and 326 to connect the first and second sheets 310 and 320 along transverse seams 346 in the web 300.

As can be seen in FIG. 7B, each of the bags 302 in the depicted embodiment includes a top along the lines of weakness 316 and 326, right sides (e.g., the first side 306) along the longitudinal fold 350, left sides (e.g., the second side 308) along the longitudinal seam 344, and a bottom along one of the transverse seams 346. The top, bottom, and left and right sides of each of the bags 302 form a compartment 304 in which an object can be loaded. In some embodiments, objects can be loaded in the bags 302 in similar fashion to the way in which objects were shown being loaded into the bags 100 in FIGS. 3A to 3D. For example, at least a portion of one of the lines of weakness 316 and 326 can be broken to form an object receiving opening in one of the bags 302. An object can be loaded into the compartment 304 of the one of the bags 302 through the object receiving opening.

In the depiction shown in FIG. 7B, each of the bags 302 in the web 300 includes a closing region 348 on which the connecting materials 338 and 340 are applied. In this arrangement, portions of the connecting materials 338 and 340 can be activated to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 338 and 340 that closes the object receiving opening. For example, after one of the lines of weakness 316 and 326 is broken to form the object receiving opening, an object can be loaded into the compartment 304 through the object receiving opening because the connecting materials 338 and 340 have not connected to each other by mere contact. After the object is inserted into the compartment 304 through the object receiving opening, portions of the connecting materials 338 and 340 can be activated in the closing region 348 to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 338 and 340 that closes the object receiving opening. In this way, the web 300 can be used to bag objects in ways similar to those described above with respect to the webs 10 and 10′ being used to bag objects in FIGS. 3A to 3D.

As can be seen in FIG. 7A, the first sheet 310 includes uncovered areas 318 and the second sheet 320 includes uncovered areas 328. The uncovered areas 318 include the portions of the first sheet 310 not covered by the connecting materials 340. The uncovered areas 328 include the portions of the second sheet 320 not covered by any of the connecting materials 338. When the first and second sheets 310 and 320 are connected to each other by the activated portions of the connecting materials 338 and 340, as shown in FIG. 7B, portions of the surfaces of each of the compartments 304 are made up of the uncovered areas 318 and 328. In some embodiments, the percentage of the surfaces of the compai iments 304 that is made up by the uncovered areas 318 and 328 is greater than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, and about 90%. In some embodiments, the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets 310 and 320 in each of the bags 302 that have the connecting material 338 and 340 applied thereto is less than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 40%, about 30%, about 20%, and about 10%. In other embodiments, inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 310 and 320 may be completely covered by the connecting material 338 and 340 such that the first sheet 310 does not include uncovered areas 318 and the second sheet 320 does not include uncovered areas 328.

In embodiments where the first and second sheets 310 and 320 are fiber-based materials, the likelihood that the bags 302 are recyclable in a convenient form (e.g., curbside recyclable), increases as the percentage of the uncovered areas 318 and 328 of the first and second sheets 310 and 320 increases. Thus, under some circumstances, it may be advantageous to minimize the amount of the connecting material 338 and 340 that is applied to the first and second sheets 310 and 320, while applying sufficient amounts of the connecting material 338 and 340 to ensure that the bags 302 will be properly closed when the various portions of the connecting material 338 and 340 are activated.

FIGS. 8A and 8B depict an embodiment of a web 400 respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags 402. The web 400 includes a first sheet 410 and a second sheet 420. The first and second sheets 410 and 420 are formed from a fiber-based material. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sheets 410 and 420 are formed from a single sheet of material that has been folded about longitudinal folds 450 a and 450 b. In FIG. 8A, the first sheet 410 includes a first portion 410 a and a second portion 410 b that are separated by the second sheet 420. The longitudinal fold 450 a is located between the first portion 410 a of the first sheet 410 and the longitudinal fold 450 b is located between the second portion 410 b of the first sheet 410. The single sheet of sheet material includes a first side 414 located along a side of the second portion 410 b of the first sheet 410 and a second side 424 located along a side of the first portion 410 a of the first sheet 410. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sides 414 and 424 are longitudinal sides of the single sheet of sheet material.

In the depicted embodiment, the first and second portions 410 a and 410 b of the first sheet 410 include lines of weakness 416 a and 416 b, respectively. The second sheet 420 includes lines of weakness 426. In the depicted embodiment, the lines of weakness 416 a and 416 b and 426 are positioned in the first and second sheets 410 and 420, respectively, such that one of the lines of weakness 426 is substantially aligned with one of the lines of weakness 416 a and one of the lines of weakness 416 b when the first and second sheets 410 and 420 are connected together to form the bags 402. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 416 a, 416 b, and 426 include one or more of a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or any other line of weakness, that allow one of the first and second sheets 410 and 420 to be torn or otherwise broken.

FIG. 8A depicts inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 410 and 420 before the first and second sheets 410 and 420 are connected together to form the bags 402. To aid in connecting the first and second sheets 410 and 420, the inner surface of the first and second portions 410 a and 410 b of the first sheet 410 have adhesive applied thereto. In the depicted embodiment, the inner surface of the first portion 410 a has a first longitudinal strip 434 of adhesive applied proximate the side 424. The inner surface of the first portion 410 a has transverse strips 436 a of adhesive applied proximate each of the lines of weakness 426 a. The inner surface of the second portion 410 b has transverse strips 436 b of adhesive applied proximate each of the lines of weakness 426 b. In the depicted embodiment, the transverse strips 436 a and 436 b of adhesive are applied above each of the lines of weakness 416 a and 416 b, respectively. In some embodiments, the adhesive in the longitudinal strip 434 is configured to connect the first portion 410 a to the second portion 410 b to form the first sheet 410 upon contact between the first and second portions 410 a and 410 b. In some embodiments, the adhesive in the transverse strips 436 a and 436 b is configured to connect the first sheet 410 to the second sheet 420 upon contact between the first and second sheets 410 and 420. For example, the adhesive in the longitudinal strip 434 and in the transverse strips 436 a and 436 b can include at least one of tape, double-sided tape, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, glue, liquid glue, spray glue, a starch-based adhesive, or any other contact adhesive.

FIG. 8B depicts the web 400 with the first and second sheets 410 and 420 connected together to form a series of the bags 402. In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal folds 450 a and 450 b are folded such that the longitudinal folds 450 a and 450 b form first and second sides 406 and 408 of the web 400. In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal strip 434 of adhesive has connected the first and second portions 410 a and 410 b proximate the sides 414 and 424 to form a longitudinal seam 444 between first and second sides 406 and 408 of the web 400. The transverse strips 436 a and 436 b of adhesive have connected the first and second sheets 410 and 420 proximate each of the lines of weakness 416 and 426 to form transverse seams 446. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8B, the longitudinal seam 444 is located away from the first and second sides 206 and 208.

As can be seen in FIG. 8B, each of the bags 402 in the depicted embodiment includes a top along the lines of weakness 416 a, 416 b, and 426, right and left sides along the first and second sides 406 and 408 at the longitudinal folds 450 a and 450 b, and a bottom along one of the transverse seams 446. The top, bottom, and left and right sides of each of the bags 402 form a compartment 404 in which an object can be loaded. In some embodiments, objects can be loaded in the bags 402 in similar fashion to the way in which objects were shown being loaded into the bags 100 in FIGS. 4A to 4D. For example, at least a portion of one of the lines of weakness 416 and 426 can be broken to form an object receiving opening in one of the bags 402. An object can be loaded into the compartment 404 of the one of the bags 402 through the object receiving opening.

Referring back to FIG. 8A, a connecting material 438 has been applied to the inner surface of the second sheet 420, a connecting material 440 a has been applied to the inner surface of the first portion 410 a of the first sheet 410, and a connecting material 440 b has been applied to the inner surface of the second portion 410 b of the first sheet 410. In the depicted embodiment, the connecting material 438 has been applied in a substantially transverse direction across the second sheet 420 below each of the lines of weakness 426. Similarly, the connecting material 440 a has been applied in a substantially transverse direction across the first portion 410 a of the first sheet 410 below each of the lines of weakness 416 a and the connecting material 440 b has been applied in a substantially transverse direction across the second portion 410 b of the first sheet 410 below each of the lines of weakness 416 b.

The connecting materials 438, 440 a, and 440 b are configured such that the connecting material 438 does not connect with the connecting materials 440 a and 440 b (collectively, connecting material 440) solely by contacting each other. The connecting materials 438 and 440 are further configured to connect with each other in response to activation of at least a portion the connecting materials 438 and 440. In some embodiments, the connecting materials 438 and 440 include a polymer coating or lamination. In some cases, the polymer can be applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 410 and 420 as an aqueous solution that includes the polymer. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 438 and 440 are activatable by a cold press process by which a force is applied to the connecting materials 438 and 440, which causes the connecting materials 438 and 440 to connect to each other. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 438 and 440 form two-component adhesive, with the connecting material 438 being a first component of the two-component adhesive and the connecting material 440 being a second component of the two-component adhesive. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 438 and 440 can be any other type of suitable connecting materials that will not connect to each other merely by contact but will connect to each other upon activation of at least a portion of the connecting materials 438 and 440.

In FIG. 8B, the first and second sheets 410 and 420 are connected to each other by the longitudinal strip 434 of adhesive and the transverse strips 436 a and 436 b of adhesive. In this configuration, each of the bags 402 in the web 400 includes a closing region 448 on which the connecting materials 438 and 440 are applied. In this arrangement, portions of the connecting materials 438 and 440 can be activated to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 438 and 440 that closes the object receiving opening. For example, after one of the lines of weakness 416 and 426 is broken to form the object receiving opening, an object can be loaded into the compartment 404 through the object receiving opening because the connecting materials 438 and 440 have not connected to each other by mere contact. After the object is inserted into the compartment 404 through the object receiving opening, portions of the connecting materials 438 and 440 can be activated in the closing region 448 to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 438 and 440 that closes the object receiving opening. In this way, the web 400 can be used to bag objects in ways similar to those described above with respect to the webs 10 and 10′ being used to bag objects in FIGS. 4A to 4D.

As can be seen in FIG. 8A, the first portion 410 a includes uncovered areas 418 a of the first sheet 410, the second portion 410 b includes uncovered areas 418 b of the first sheet 410, and the second sheet 420 includes uncovered areas 428. The uncovered areas 418 a and 418 b (collectively, uncovered areas 418) include the portions of the first sheet 410 not covered by the longitudinal strip 434 of adhesive, the transverse strips 436 a and 436 b of adhesive, and the connecting materials 440. The uncovered areas 428 include the portions of the second sheet 420 not covered by the connecting materials 438. When the first and second portions 410 a and 410 b are connected to form the first sheet 410, as shown in FIG. 8B, portions of the surfaces of each of the compartments 404 are made up of the uncovered areas 418 a, 418 b, and 428. In some embodiments, the percentage of the surfaces of the compartments 404 that is made up by the uncovered areas 418 a, 418 b, and 428 is greater than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, and about 90%. In some embodiments, the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets 410 and 420 in each of the bags 402 that have the connecting material 438 and 440 applied thereto is less than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 40%, about 30%, about 40%, and about 10%. In some embodiments, the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets 410 and 420 that have any of the longitudinal strip 434 of adhesive, the transverse strips 436 a and 436 b of adhesive, and the connecting material 438 and 440 applied thereto is less than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 40%, about 30%, about 40%, and about 10%. In other embodiments, inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 410 and 420 may be completely covered by the longitudinal strip 434 of adhesive, the transverse strips 436 a and 436 b of adhesive, and/or the connecting materials 438 and 440 such that the first sheet 410 does not include uncovered areas 418 and the second sheet 420 does not include uncovered areas 428.

In embodiments where the first and second sheets 410 and 420 are fiber-based materials, the likelihood that the bags 402 are recyclable in a convenient form (e.g., curbside recyclable), increases as the percentage of the uncovered areas 418 a, 418 b and 428 of the first and second sheets 410 and 420 increases. Thus, under some circumstances, it may be advantageous to minimize the amount of the connecting material 438 and 440 that is applied to the first and second sheets 410 and 420, while applying sufficient amounts of the connecting material 438 and 440 to ensure that the bags 402 will be properly closed when the connecting material 438 and 440 are activated.

In embodiments described above, webs of bags have product receiving openings that extend transversely across the web. In other embodiments, webs of bags can be formed to have product receiving openings that extend longitudinally along the web. Examples of machines that can be used to open, fill, and close webs of bags having longitudinal product receiving openings are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,258,656, 7,552,571, 8,887,978, and 9,617,102, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Embodiments of such webs having longitudinal product receiving openings are described herein with respect to FIGS. 9A to 10B.

FIGS. 9A and 9B depict an embodiment of a web 500 respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags 502. The web 500 includes a first sheet 510 and a second sheet 520. The first and second sheets 510 and 520 are formed from a fiber-based material. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sheets 510 and 520 are formed from separate sheets of the fiber-based material. The first sheet 510 includes a first side 512 and a second side 514. The second sheet 520 includes a first side 522 and a second side 524. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sides 512 and 514 are longitudinal sides of the first sheet 510 and the first and second sides 522 and 524 are longitudinal sides of the first sheet 520. It will be apparent that, in other embodiments, the first and second sheets 510 and 520 could be formed from a single sheet of sheet material.

In the depicted embodiment, the first sheet 510 includes lines of weakness 516 and the second sheet 520 includes lines of weakness 526. In the depicted embodiment, the lines of weakness 516 and 526 are positioned in the first and second sheets 510 and 520, respectively, such that the one of the lines of weakness 516 and one of the lines of weakness 526 are substantially aligned when the first and second sheets 510 and 520 are connected together to form the bags 502. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 516 and 526 include one or more of a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or any other line of weakness, that allow one of the first and second sheets 510 and 520 to be torn or otherwise broken. In other embodiments, only one of the first and second sheets 510 and 520 includes a line of weakness.

FIG. 9A depicts inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 510 and 520 before the first and second sheets 510 and 520 are connected together to form the bags 502. To aid in connecting the first and second sheets 510 and 520, the inner surface of the second sheet 520 has adhesive applied thereto. In the depicted embodiment, the inner surface of the second sheet 520 has a longitudinal strip 532 of adhesive applied proximate the first side 522. The inner surface of the second sheet 520 also has transverse strips 536 of adhesive applied proximate each of the lines of weakness 526. In the depicted embodiment, the transverse strips 536 of adhesive applied both above and below each of the lines of weakness 526. In some embodiments, the adhesive in the longitudinal strip 532 and in the transverse strips 536 is configured to connect the second sheet 520 to the first sheet 510 upon contact between the first and second sheets 510 and 520. For example, the adhesive in the longitudinal strip 532 and in the transverse strips 536 can include at least one of tape, double-sided tape, a pressure-sensitive adhesive, glue, liquid glue, spray glue, a starch-based adhesive, or any other contact adhesive.

FIG. 9B depicts the web 500 with the first and second sheets 510 and 520 connected together to form a series of the bags 502. In the depicted embodiment, the longitudinal strip 532 of adhesive has connected the first and second sheets 510 and 520 proximate the first sides 512 and 522 to form a first longitudinal seam 542 on a first side 506 of the web 500. The transverse strips 536 of adhesive have connected the first and second sheets 510 and 520 proximate each of the lines of weakness 516 and 526 to form transverse seams 546 through which the lines of weakness 516 and 526 pass. The web 500 has a second side 508 opposite the first side 506 that remains open

As can be seen in FIG. 9B, each of the bags 502 in the depicted embodiment includes a top along the second side 508, right and left sides formed by two consecutive transverse seams 546, and a bottom formed by the longitudinal seam 542 along the first side 506. The top, bottom, and left and right sides of each of the bags 502 form a compartment 504 in which an object can be loaded. In some embodiments, each of the bags 502 can be opened and objects can be loaded in the bags 502. For example, the first and second sheets 510 and 520 can be pulled away from each other along the second side 508 to form a product receiving opening and an object can be loaded into the compartment 504 of the one of the bags 502 through the object receiving opening. After the object has been loaded into the compartment 504, the first and second sheets 510 and 520 can be released to allow the product receiving opening to be closed.

Referring back to FIG. 9A, a connecting material 538 has been applied to the inner surface of the second sheet 520 and a connecting material 540 has been applied to the inner surface of the first sheet 510. In the depicted embodiment, the connecting material 538 has been applied in a substantially longitudinal direction along the second sheet 520 proximate the second side 524. Similarly, the connecting material 540 has been applied in a substantially longitudinal direction across the first sheet 510 proximate the second side 514.

The connecting materials 538 and 540 are configured such that the connecting materials 538 and 540 do not connect with each other solely by contacting each other. The connecting materials 538 and 540 are further configured to connect with each other in response to activation of at least a portion the connecting materials 538 and 540. In some embodiments, the connecting materials 538 and 540 include a polymer coating or lamination. In some cases, the polymer can be applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 510 and 520 as an aqueous solution that includes the polymer. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 538 and 540 are activatable by a cold press process by which a force is applied to the connecting materials 538 and 540, which causes the connecting materials 538 and 540 to connect to each other. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 538 and 540 form two-component adhesive, with the connecting material 538 being a first component of the two-component adhesive and the connecting material 540 being a second component of the two-component adhesive. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 538 and 540 can be any other type of suitable connecting materials that will not connect to each other merely by contact but will connect to each other upon activation of at least a portion of the connecting materials 538 and 540.

In FIG. 9B, the first and second sheets 510 and 520 are connected to each other by the longitudinal strip 532 of adhesive and the transverse strips 536 of adhesive. In this configuration, each of the bags 502 in the web 500 includes a closing region 548 on which the connecting materials 538 and 540 are applied. In this arrangement, portions of the connecting materials 538 and 540 can be activated to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 538 and 540 that closes the object receiving opening. For example, before the connecting materials 538 and 540 are activated, the first and second sheets 510 and 520 can be separated to open the product receiving opening and an object can be loaded into the compartment 504 through the product receiving opening because the connecting materials 538 and 540 have not connected to each other by mere contact. After the object is inserted into the compartment 504 through the object receiving opening, portions of the connecting materials 538 and 540 can be activated in the closing region 548 to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 538 and 540 that closes the object receiving opening.

As can be seen in FIG. 9A, the first sheet 510 includes uncovered areas 518 and the second sheet 520 includes uncovered areas 528. The uncovered areas 518 include the portions of the first sheet 510 not covered by the connecting materials 540. The uncovered areas 528 include the portions of the second sheet 520 not covered by any of the longitudinal strip 532 of adhesive, the transverse strips 536 of adhesive, and the connecting materials 538. When the first and second sheets 510 and 520 are connected to each other, as shown in FIG. 9B, portions of the surfaces of each of the compartments 504 are made up of the uncovered areas 518 and 528. In some embodiments, the percentage of the surfaces of the compartments 504 that is made up by the uncovered areas 518 and 528 is greater than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, and about 90%. In some embodiments, the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets 510 and 520 in each of the bags 502 that have the connecting material 538 and 540 applied thereto is less than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 40%, about 30%, about 50%, and about 10%. In some embodiments, the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets 510 and 520 that have any of the longitudinal strip 532 of adhesive, the transverse strips 536 of adhesive, and the connecting material 538 and 540 applied thereto is less than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 40%, about 30%, about 50%, and about 10%. In other embodiments, inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 510 and 520 may be completely covered by the longitudinal strip 532 of adhesive, the transverse strips 536 of adhesive, and/or the connecting materials 538 and 540 such that the first sheet 510 does not include uncovered areas 518 and the second sheet 520 does not include uncovered areas 528.

In embodiments where the first and second sheets 510 and 520 are fiber-based materials, the likelihood that the bags 502 are recyclable in a convenient form (e.g., curbside recyclable), increases as the percentage of the uncovered areas 518 and 528 of the first and second sheets 510 and 520 increases. Thus, under some circumstances, it may be advantageous to minimize the amount of the connecting material 538 and 540 that is applied to the first and second sheets 510 and 520, while applying sufficient amounts of the connecting material 538 and 540 to ensure that the bags 502 will be properly closed when the connecting material 538 and 540 are activated.

FIGS. 10A and 10B depict another embodiment of a web 600 of bags 602 respectively before and after being formed into a series of connected bags 602. The web 600 is similar to the web 500, except that the web 600 includes connecting materials instead of longitudinal and transverse strips of adhesive. The web 600 includes a first sheet 610 and a second sheet 620. The first and second sheets 610 and 620 are formed from a fiber-based material. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second sheets 610 and 620 are formed from a single sheet of the fiber-based material that has a longitudinal fold 650 between the first and second sheets 610 and 620. In other embodiments, the web 600 could be formed from separate sheets of sheet material. The first sheet 610 includes a side 614 and the second sheet 620 includes a side 624. In the depicted embodiment, the sides 614 and 624 are longitudinal sides of the single sheet of the sheet material.

In the depicted embodiment, the first sheet 610 includes lines of weakness 616 and the second sheet 620 includes lines of weakness 626. In the depicted embodiment, the lines of weakness 616 and 626 are positioned in the first and second sheets 610 and 620, respectively, such that the one of the lines of weakness 616 and one of the lines of weakness 626 are substantially aligned when the first and second sheets 610 and 620 are connected together to form the bags 602. In some embodiments, the lines of weakness 616 and 626 include one or more of a perforation, a slit, a thinner portion of material, or any other line of weakness, that allow one of the first and second sheets 610 and 620 to be torn or otherwise broken. In other embodiments, only one of the first and second sheets 610 and 620 includes a line of weakness.

FIG. 10A depicts inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 610 and 620 before the first and second sheets 610 and 620 are connected together to form the bags 602. To aid in connecting the first and second sheets 610 and 620, the inner surfaces of the first and second sheet 610 and 620 have connecting materials applied thereto. A connecting material 638 has been applied to the inner surface of the second sheet 620 and a connecting material 640 has been applied to the inner surface of the first sheet 610. In the depicted embodiment, the connecting material 638 has been applied in a substantially longitudinal strip 632 along the side 624 and in substantially transverse strips 636 across the second sheet 620 both above and below each of the lines of weakness 626. Similarly, the connecting material 640 has been applied in a substantially longitudinal strip 634 along the side 614 and in substantially transverse strips 637 across the first sheet 610 both above and below each of the lines of weakness 616.

The connecting materials 638 and 640 are configured such that the connecting materials 638 and 640 do not connect with each other solely by contacting each other. The connecting materials 638 and 640 are further configured to connect with each other in response to activation of at least a portion the connecting materials 638 and 640. In some embodiments, the connecting materials 638 and 640 include a polymer coating or lamination. In some cases, the polymer can be applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 610 and 620 as an aqueous solution that includes the polymer. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 638 and 640 are activatable by a cold press process by which a force is applied to the connecting materials 638 and 640, which causes the connecting materials 638 and 640 to connect to each other. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 638 and 640 form two-component adhesive, with the connecting material 638 being a first component of the two-component adhesive and the connecting material 640 being a second component of the two-component adhesive. In other embodiments, the connecting materials 638 and 640 can be any other type of suitable connecting materials that will not connect to each other merely by contact but will connect to each other upon activation of at least a portion of the connecting materials 638 and 640.

FIG. 10B depicts the web 600 with the first and second sheets 610 and 620 connected together to form a series of the bags 602. In the depicted embodiment, the connecting materials 638 and 640 in the transverse strips 636 and 637 have been activated proximate the lines of weakness 616 and 626 to connect the first and second sheets 610 and 620 along transverse seams 646. A first side 606 of the web 600 is closed by the longitudinal fold 650 between the first and second sheets 610 and 620. A second side 608 of the web is open to permit the insertion of objects into the bags 602.

As can be seen in FIG. 10B, each of the bags 602 in the depicted embodiment includes a top along the second side 608, right and left sides formed by two consecutive transverse seams 646, and a bottom formed by the longitudinal fold 650 along the first side 606. The top, bottom, and left and right sides of each of the bags 602 form a compartment 604 in which an object can be loaded. In some embodiments, each of the bags 602 can be opened and objects can be loaded in the bags 602. For example, the first and second sheets 610 and 620 can be pulled away from each other along the second side 608 to form a product receiving opening and an object can be loaded into the compartment 604 of the one of the bags 602 through the object receiving opening. After the object has been loaded into the compartment 604, the first and second sheets 610 and 620 can be released to allow the product receiving opening to be closed.

In the depiction shown in FIG. 10B, each of the bags 602 in the web 600 includes a closing region 648 on which the connecting materials 638 and 640 are applied. In this arrangement, portions of the connecting materials 638 and 640 can be activated to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 638 and 640 that closes the object receiving opening. For example, before the connecting materials 638 and 640 are activated, the first and second sheets 610 and 620 can be separated to open the product receiving opening and an object can be loaded into the compartment 604 through the product receiving opening because the connecting materials 638 and 640 have not connected to each other by mere contact. After the object is inserted into the compartment 604 through the object receiving opening, portions of the connecting materials 638 and 640 can be activated in the closing region 648 to form an activated portion of the connecting materials 638 and 640 that closes the object receiving opening.

As can be seen in FIG. 10A, the first sheet 610 includes uncovered areas 618 and the second sheet 620 includes uncovered areas 628. The uncovered areas 618 include the portions of the first sheet 610 not covered by the connecting materials 640. The uncovered areas 628 include the portions of the second sheet 620 not covered by any of the connecting materials 638. When the first and second sheets 610 and 620 are connected to each other by the activated portions of the connecting materials 638 and 640, as shown in FIG. 10B, portions of the surfaces of each of the compartments 604 are made up of the uncovered areas 618 and 628. In some embodiments, the percentage of the surfaces of the compartments 604 that is made up by the uncovered areas 618 and 628 is greater than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, and about 90%. In some embodiments, the percentage of the area of the inner surfaces the first and second sheets 610 and 620 in each of the bags 602 that have the connecting material 638 and 640 applied thereto is less than or equal to one or more of about 50%, about 40%, about 60%, about 60%, and about 10%. In other embodiments, inner surfaces of the first and second sheets 610 and 620 may be completely covered by the connecting materials 638 and 640 such that the first sheet 610 does not include uncovered areas 618 and the second sheet 620 does not include uncovered areas 628.

In embodiments where the first and second sheets 610 and 620 are fiber-based materials, the likelihood that the bags 602 are recyclable in a convenient form (e.g., curbside recyclable), increases as the percentage of the uncovered areas 618 and 628 of the first and second sheets 610 and 620 increases. Thus, under some circumstances, it may be advantageous to minimize the amount of the connecting material 638 and 640 that is applied to the first and second sheets 610 and 620, while applying sufficient amounts of the connecting material 638 and 640 to ensure that the bags 602 will be properly closed when the various portions of the connecting material 638 and 640 are activated.

For purposes of this disclosure, terminology such as “upper,” “lower,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “inner,” “outer,” “front,” “rear,” and the like, should be construed as descriptive and not limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further, the use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. Unless stated otherwise, the terms “substantially,” “approximately,” and the like are used to mean within 5% of a target value.

The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure which are intended to be protected are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as claimed. 

1. A web of preformed bags, comprising: a sheet material comprising a first sheet and a second sheet, wherein the first and second sheets are formed from a fiber-based material, wherein first and second sheets are arranged to form a series of bags, wherein the first and second sheets are connected together to form sides of each of the bags, wherein each of the bags is bounded by the sides where first and second sheets are connected together and an opening; and a connecting material applied to an inner surface of the first sheet and to an inner surface of the second sheet, wherein, activation of portions of the connecting material where the first and second sheets that are in contact with each other causes the first and second sheets to be connected by the activated portions of the connecting material; wherein the connecting material is applied to closing regions on the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets of at least one bag such that, after a product is inserted through the opening of the at least one bag, the connecting material in the closing regions can be activated to form a first activated portion of the connecting material that closes the opening.
 2. The web of claim 1, wherein the opening of the at least one bag and a bottom of the at least one bag extend transversely across the first and second sheets.
 3. The web of claim 2, wherein the bottom of the at least one bag is formed by a second activated portion of the connecting material.
 4. The web of claim 2, wherein the first and second sheets are formed from a single sheet of the sheet material, and wherein a first longitudinal fold in the single sheet defines a boundary between the first sheet and the second sheet.
 5. The web of claim 4, wherein the first longitudinal fold forms a first lateral side of the at least one bag, wherein the first lateral side extends between the bottom of the at least one bag and the opening of the at least one bag.
 6. The web of claim 5, wherein longitudinal edges of the single sheet are connected together by a third activated portion of the connecting material to form a second lateral side of the at least one bag, wherein the second lateral side extends between the bottom of the at least one bag and the opening of the at least one bag.
 7. The web of claim 5, wherein a second longitudinal fold in the single sheet defines another boundary between the first sheet and the second sheet, wherein the second longitudinal fold forms a second lateral side of the at least one bag, wherein the second lateral side extends between the bottom of the at least one bag and the opening of the at least one bag, wherein longitudinal edges of the single sheet are connected together by a third activated portion of the connecting material to form a longitudinal seam, wherein the first sheet is bounded by the first and second longitudinal folds and includes the longitudinal seam, and wherein the second sheet is bounded by the first and second longitudinal folds.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The web of claim 2, wherein the first and second sheets are formed from separate sheets of the sheet material that are connected together along third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material.
 10. The web of claim 9, wherein the third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material form first and second lateral sides, respectively, of the at least one bag, and wherein each of the first and second sheets is bounded by the third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material.
 11. The web of claim 9, wherein the third and fourth activated portions of the connecting material form longitudinal seams in the web, wherein each of the separate sheets of the sheet material includes a longitudinal fold, and wherein each of the first and second sheets is bounded by the longitudinal folds in the separate sheets of the sheet material and includes one of the longitudinal seams in the web.
 12. The web of claim 1, wherein the opening of the at least one bag extends along a first longitudinal side of the web, and wherein a bottom of the at least one bag extends along a second longitudinal side of the web.
 13. The web of claim 12, wherein a first lateral side of the bag that extends between the bottom and the opening of the at least one bag is formed by a second activated portion of the connecting material. 14.-15. (canceled)
 16. The web of claim 14, wherein the first and second sheets are formed from separate sheets of the sheet material that are connected together along a fourth activated portion of the connecting material, and wherein the fourth activated portion of the connecting material defines the bottom of the at least one bag.
 17. The web of claim 1, wherein the connecting material is applied to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets in a pattern, wherein the pattern includes at least one longitudinal strip of the connecting material along each of the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets. 18.-21. (canceled)
 22. The web of claim 1, wherein the connecting material includes a polymer.
 23. The web of claim 22, wherein the connecting material is activatable by a heat seal configured to bond portions of the polymer on the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets.
 24. The web of claim 22, wherein the connecting material is applied as an aqueous solution that includes the polymer.
 25. The web of claim 22, wherein the polymer is laminated to the inner surfaces of the first and second sheets. 26.-27. (canceled)
 28. The web of claim 1, wherein the web further comprises: a first set of two longitudinal creases on opposite sides of a first longitudinal side of the web; and a second set of two longitudinal creases on opposite sides of a second longitudinal side of the webs; wherein a portion of the web that includes the at least one bag is in a lay-flat configuration prior to a product being inserted into the at least one bag; and wherein, in the lay-flat configuration, the longitudinal creases of the first and second sets of two longitudinal creases are unfolded.
 29. (canceled)
 30. The web of claim 29, wherein the at least one bag is adjustable from the lay-flat configuration to a three-dimensional configuration where the longitudinal creases of the first and second sets of two longitudinal creases are folded such that lateral sides of the at least one bag are gusseted. 31.-32. (canceled) 